8 Healthy Food Swap Ideas

September 25, 2018 February 18, 2020

Can’t give up some bad habits? Do you l sneak a soda or get the tub of ice-cream out for just two (six) scoops? Well, what if you could still enjoy them? You just have to be a little inventive and make some small changes. Have you ever tried frozen banana in the blender? Well it is a game changer, tastes exactly like ice-cream! You’re going to learn to make some simple changes for pizza dough and more that will have you eating healthy in no time. Here are 8 healthy food swap ideas:

Don’t Step Away from the French Fries

The next time you want fries try baking them instead of deep frying them liters of oil. When at home try tossing sweet potato wedges in a bag with olive oil and semolina. This coating with ensure you get a crispy oven chip every time. You can also try using a healthy oil like coconut to help reduce your cholesterol levels.

Ditch the Dry Chicken!

There might be nothing like a crunchy deep-fried chicken thigh or breast, however, can be guaranteed to feeling greasy afterwards! If you’re tried oven baked chicken breasts, thighs or legs you know they can be a little dry!

The best way to ensure your meat is juicy and succulent is by going low and slow and adding your flavor via smoke. Kids love something with a handle as well as to chew on, so smoked turkey legs are perfect! Not only is turkey leaner than chicken the grill leaves the grill will a more delicious outer crust!

Use Steam Instead

Cooking veggies and fish by steaming them is a super healthy alternative. You retain all of their natural yummy flavors, whilst cooking them to perfection. By steaming your food, you’re adding no extra calories to your meal, making your favorite (usually unhealthy) meals, much healthier. You can top fish with flavorings like lemon and chili and use the steam to infuse the flavors into your food.

Image by Ilya, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

DIY Pizza

You have two good options when it comes to pizza. You can make a pizza bread crust with cauliflower, but if is the classic pizza dough is that you crave? Then why not make it from scratch and just switch out what’s on top of the pizza?

So how do you get started? Have your homemade pizza dough ready – spread it out on a baking pan that has been properly floured – brush the pizza dough with some extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle on your veggies as well as a moderate amount of your favorite cheese. Yummy pizza dough! If you’re feeling a little fancy, mix some black pepper, garlic powder and some of your favorite spices in with your veggies beforehand!

Totally Tasty Pudding

Chocolate pudding is great for when you want something decadent and sweet for dessert. Usually this milk-based chocolate treat can get you into some calorie trouble.

Try cutting out some of the calories by using an avocado base instead of cream. Yes that’s right, you can make the pudding with avocados. You want to blend some cacao powder, non-dairy milk, avocado, and sweetener in your heavy-duty blender. Let the mixture chill in your fridge a few hours. The result is creamy chocolate which is also really food for you.

Make a Condiment the Star!

Have you tried making your sauces? If you have ever had a read of the back you will notice that sugar is one of the main ingredients. If you see some tomatoes on sale, why not make your own tomato sauce? Or try making a yummy pesto. It is great to add to pasta or as a coating on chicken.

If you looking for a creamy spread like butter, why not try avocado. It is a similar texture to butter and great to spread on flatbread or toast. It is super easy to also make salsa, hummus or even salad dressing.

We All Scream for Healthy Ice cream

We all love ice-cream, but if you have ever brought a tub and ‘accidently’ finished the whole tub, this can help. If you see some brown bananas at the shop or have some, don’t throw them out, peel and freeze them now! Craving some yummy ice-cream? Just grab them and throw them in the blender for 1 or 2 minutes. You will find it turns into fluffy banana ice cream in no time!

It is delicious on its own, but you can add anything you love in ice-cream. You could throw in some blueberries, coconut milk or mint. You won’t believe how similar the consistency and taste is to ice cream!

Final Words on Healthy Food Swap Ideas

Educating yourself is crucial when it comes to eating well. Rather than denying yourself or overindulging just a few tweaks here and there won’t have you missing out on anything. Turn these idea and behaviors in habits to ensure you lead the healthiest lifestyle possible, while still enjoying it! From elevating your pizza dough with veggies to making sweet potato wedges, now you have a lot of ideas. Looking for more inspiration? If so, then check out these healthy habits.

Interesting ideas, Christy. I like the sound of a cauliflower pizza base. That sounds inventive. I’m not so sure about the banana ice cream or the avocado chocolate dessert. I did try that once when I needed to take something healthy for a morning tea and ended up throwing most of it out. It’s the thought of it more than anything, I think.